Program Overview

Representing the Irish Landscape is a program for students interested in the culture of contemporary Ireland and how its artists depict the Irish experience through visual arts and literature. Open to students at all levels of experience, the program includes courses in visual arts and Irish literature, and an independent studies course that allows students to engage facets of the Irish landscape and culture in depth. The Penn State faculty teaching the program will be joined by visiting artists and writers for special presentations.

Over the course of five weeks, the group will stay in four different sites across Ireland, and will visit several more. The first week will be spent in the city of Dublin, where housing will be provided by Trinity College, in the heart of the city. We will see plays, visit museums, attend poetry readings and participate in the city's vibrant art scene. Next, the program moves to picturesque Achill Island, where students will stay in holiday homes, work in a spacious art studio, and meet local renowned poets such as Paul Durcan and Vona Groake.

Following the island, the program settles in Galway, a medieval port town known for its cobbled narrow streets, vibrant music scene and college town vibe. There, students will stay in university housing and area visits will include Yeat's tower and a bicycling trip in the Aran Islands. Next is the tiny village of Allihies, on the southern coast's Beara Peninsula, where students will stay in villagers' homes (meals will be provided) and scheduled workshops will be led by well-known visiting Irish writers and artists. Finally, students will travel together, back to Dublin for two nights before departure from the program.

Program Quicklinks

Education Abroad Credits

You will receive credit for all academic courses taken on this program, and all of your grades from abroad will count toward your Penn State cumulative GPA. You may not take any courses overseas on a Pass/Fail basis.

Students are required to enroll in three courses appropriate to their academic level and area of concentration. All participants must register for both English and Art and a final project, either in writing or visual arts, must be submitted by the end of the summer session. Most Art students will enroll in 6 credits of Art and 3 credits of English. Most English students will enroll in 6 credits of English and 3 credits of Art. If you are not either an English or Art major, please select appropriate courses based on interests or to satisfy academic requirements.

Our literature course will include readings from the Celtic Revival that figure the West of Ireland and Irish mythology prominently within the project of cultural nationalism. We will study writers who pay special attention to place, ranging from J.M. Synge's Aran islands, to James Joyce's Dublin, to more contemporary representations of Ireland as a multicultural, modern space. In addition to readings, we will study and meet several contemporary Irish writers. The course will include drama, film, and prose and will feature outings to performances, lectures, readings and poetry workshops.

Art Courses

These courses explore the creation of visual responses to the the emotional, physical, economic and psychological Irish landscape. We will investigate the idea of site, place, and time as they apply to historical perspectives and contemporary art-making practices. We will visit artist studios and encourage conversation with celebrated Irish Artists. Students will be encouraged to experiment with a wide variety of materials and methods to develop their own personal vocabulary of practice techniques, promoting and developing self-expression and discovery. I am interested in the construction of a completed visual travel log, a journal specific to the context of being in Ireland at this time in history.

Students may not take sport or physical activity courses (e.g. sailing, bowling, yoga, etc.) abroad. These courses will not be credited at Penn State.

Pre-requisites

Successful applicants will satisfy pre-requisites established by the program.

Minimum 2.5 grade-point average.

All students must have a passport which is valid until six months after the last day of the program, or date of return to U.S if student is extending travel.

Housing and Meals

Housing is provided in each location. Students will need to provide their own meals in Galway and Dublin but meals are provided in Allihies and on Achill Island.

Program Costs

For more information on program costs, please be sure to review the Summer budget sheet. These budget sheets include information on costs that are billable to the bursar bill, as well as estimated additional costs. Costs vary by program, so it is important to review this information carefully.

Please note that tuition rates may vary depending on major and class standing.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Penn State students studying through Education Abroad can use most components of their existing financial aid packages toward the cost of study abroad. This may include federal and state grants, VA educational benefits, federal student loans, and University scholarships and grants. Notable exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships.

The University Office of Global Programs also administers a number of grants and scholarships. Eligibility is based on academic excellence and/or financial need. There is also funding available for study abroad programs in diverse locations and for students from diverse backgrounds. In most cases, applicants should have a current year FAFSA on file with the Office of Student Aid. Funding opportunities may also be available through Penn State academic departments. For detailed information on financial aid and scholarship opportunities and application procedures, please visit theFunding Study Abroadsection of the Global Penn State website.

For More Information

For more information about programs and education abroad at Penn State, we encourage you to meet with or contact our Peer Advisers. These study abroad returnees can explain program options, give an overview of the education abroad process, as well as provide information about his/her program. If you are not at University Park, contact your Campus Global Representative.

Studying Abroad with a Disability

Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.